I liked this book more than I expected to. John Marsden was my favourite author until I was about 15, so I've read a lot of his books - just not many of his ones with male protagonists. It took me a while to adjust to Erle's style of narration, but once I did I found it intriguing and I grew quite attached to Erle.Which started to pose a problem later in the book. Like I said, I've read a lot of Marsden's books, so I know what happens! I know how happy endings sometimes allude the main characters and how he likes to lull you into a false sense of security before hitting you with some horrible revelation. I was especially concerned when they went on a hike in the mountains really close to the end of the book - I was convinced someone was going to fall off the mountain and die! Luckily, nothing of the sort happened. I feel I can now count his boarding school books as one particular class that have better endings than some of his other books.The book was a nice easy read, although some of the language was a bit odd at first. I don't know if was an age thing (the book was published when I was only a couple of years old) or maybe a girl-boy thing (I didn't know any boys like Erle when I was in high school and for all I know there are young men out there who talk like that). But once I got used to it, it was a good read. The descriptive language was quite good!
Found on bookshelf in a hostel in Australia where pickings were Slim. Had to read til nearly the last page to confirm that yes, the title similarity to the much more famous book is totally intentional, if kind of random (a half-hearted marketing attempt?).I always enjoy reading boarding school fiction, whatever decade. Semi-reminiscent of The Lawrenceville Stories in its schoolkid hijinx, but set in the '80s this time and with some teen sexual awakening. Especially fun to read a quick novel set in Australia while I was actually there, and which referenced 2 different cities in Aus and NZ that I was actually visiting!Semi-entertaining if you've attended boarding school, otherwise not worth the hunt.
